Title 13 . Public Safety

Chapter 4 . General Provisions

Section 40. Additional lighting requirements

13 AAC 04.040. Additional lighting requirements

(a) Buses, Trucks, Trailers, Mobile Homes, Motor Homes, and Motor Vehicles with Truck Camper. Except as otherwise provided in (g) of this section and in addition to other equipment required in this chapter, a bus, truck, trailer, mobile home, motor home, or motor vehicle in combination with a mounted truck-camper which is part of the permanent structure of the vehicle upon which it is mounted, which is 80 inches or more in overall width, must be equipped with

(1) one clearance light on each side of the front for the display of yellow light, except as otherwise provided for boat trailers in (d) of this section;

(2) one clearance light on each side of the rear for the display of red light;

(3) two side marker lights on each side, one yellow light at or near the front and one red light at or near the rear; and

(4) two reflectors on each side, one yellow reflector at or near the front and one red reflector at or near the rear.

(b) Repealed 6/28/79.

(c) Truck-tractors. Truck-tractors must be equipped on the front with two cab clearance lights for the display of yellow light, one at each side. Truck-tractors manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1966, must be equipped as provided in (g) of this section.

(d) Boat Trailers. In addition to the provisions of (a)(1) of this section, a boat trailer 80 inches or more in overall length must be equipped on each side, at or near the midpoint, with one clearance light for the display of yellow light to the front and red light to the rear.

(e) Trailers Exceeding 30 Feet in Length. Trailers 30 feet or more in overall length must be equipped on each side with one side marker light and one yellow reflector, centrally located with respect to the length of the vehicle.

(f) Pole Trailers. Pole trailers must be equipped as follows:

(1) one yellow side marker light on each side at or near the front of the load;

(2) one yellow reflector at or near the front of the load;

(3) on the side at the rear of the pole trailer at the rearmost support for the load, one combination marker light showing yellow to the front and red to the rear and side, mounted to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer; and

(4) two red reflectors mounted on the rear, one on each side of the bolster or load.

(g) Identification Lights. When required or permitted by this chapter, identification lights must be grouped in a horizontal row at the top, or as near as practicable to the top, of the permanent centerline, with the centers of the lights spaced not less than six or more than 12 inches apart. However, where the cab of a vehicle is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roof line, a single identification light at the center of the cab complies with the requirements for front identification lights. Identification lights must display yellow light to the front and red light to the rear.

(h) Visibility and Mounting of Clearance, Identification, and Side Marker Lights. Front and rear clearance, identification, and side marker lights must be capable of being distinguished within 500 feet from the front, rear, and the side of the vehicle under normal atmospheric conditions. Clearance lights must, as far as practicable, be mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle to indicate the height and width of the vehicle. Clearance lights on truck-tractors must be located to indicate the width of the truck-tractor cab. Clearance and side marker lights may be mounted in combination if they provide the illumination required in this section. A vehicle may be equipped with one or more side marker lights which may be flashed in conjunction with turn or vehicular hazard warning lights.

(i) Obstructed Lights. When vehicles are driven in combination during the time that lights are required, a light need not be turned on which, by reason of its location, is obscured by another vehicle in the combination.

(j) Lights or Flags on Loads Projecting to Rear of Vehicles. When the load upon a vehicle extends four feet or more beyond the rear bed or body of the vehicle, two red taillights and two red reflectors visible to the rear must be illuminated during the times specified in sec. 10 of this chapter, and located to indicate maximum width. On each side, one red light visible from a distance of at least 600 feet to the side and located so as to indicate maximum overhang must also be illuminated. At all other times, red flags, at least 12 inches square, must be displayed marking the extremities of the load at each point where a light would otherwise be required by this section.

(k) Lights or Flags on Loads Projecting to Sides of Vehicles. When the load upon a vehicle extends to the sides one foot or more beyond the bed or body of the vehicle, the devices required in (j) of this section must be displayed, except that a yellow light must be shown or reflected to the front of the vehicle and red light must be shown or reflected to the rear of the vehicle. When the load upon a vehicle extends so as to obscure the identification lights required in (g) of this section, the load must be illuminated to identify its height as provided in (j) of this section when the loaded vehicle is driven on a highway at a time when lights are required.

( l ) Motor Vehicles with Snow Plow or Similar Device. A motor vehicle with a snow plow or similar device attached to the front must be equipped with two auxiliary multiple-beam headlights located at a point above the uppermost position of the blade if the device, either in the raised or lowered position, obstructs the headlights of the vehicle. Lights may not be attached to a point higher than the cab top of the vehicle. The lights must be as widely spaced laterally on the vehicle as is practicable and must comply with the applicable requirements of sec. 20 of this chapter regarding the aim and intensity of headlights.

(m) Lights or Flags on Blades of Public Snow Plows. A light or reflective device displaying yellow light for 100 feet in all directions must be located upon each upper corner of a blade used for snow removal on a publicly owned or maintained vehicle. The lights must be illuminated when the blade is being used to remove snow at the times specified in sec. 10 of this chapter, except that a red flag meeting the size and visibility requirements of sec. 240(a)(3) of this chapter may be substituted for the light or reflective device at other times.

(n) Animal-drawn Vehicles. An animal-drawn vehicle must be equipped with the lights and reflectors required for bicycles.

(o) Self-propelled Implements of Husbandry. A self-propelled implement of husbandry must be equipped with lights and reflectors as follows:

(1) two headlights;

(2) one red taillight mounted as far to the left of the center of the vehicle as practicable;

(3) two red reflectors meeting the requirements of sec. 30 of this chapter; and

(4) if manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1978, a vehicular hazard warning light as provided in sec. 95 of this chapter, which must be illuminated when the vehicle is driven on a highway.

(p) Towed Implements of Husbandry. An implement of husbandry which is towed behind, or is pushed ahead of, a motor vehicle must be equipped as follows:

(1) if the towed unit or its load extends more than four feet to the rear of the tractor or obscures a rear light on the tractor, the towed unit must be equipped on the rear with at least one red taillight meeting the requirements of sec. 25 of this chapter, mounted as far to the left of the center of the towed unit as practicable, and must be equipped with at least two red reflectors meeting the requirements of sec. 30 of this chapter;

(2) if the towed or pushed unit extends more than four feet to the left of the centerline of the tractor, the towed unit must be equipped on the front with a yellow reflector meeting the visibility requirements of sec. 30 of this chapter and positioned to indicate, as nearly as practicable, the extreme left projection of the towed or pushed unit;

(3) if the towed or pushed unit or its load obscures vehicular hazard warning lights on the motor vehicle, the towed unit must be equipped with a vehicular hazard warning light as required in sec. 95 of this chapter.

(q) All Implements of Husbandry. The reflectors required in (o) and (p) of this section must be positioned to show from the rear, as nearly as practicable, the extreme width of the vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying them; however, if all other requirements are met, reflective tape or paint may be used instead of the reflectors required by (p) of this section.

History: In effect before 7/28/59; am 12/15/61, Register 3; am 8/10/66, Register 22; am 12/31/69, Register 31; am 6/28/79, Register 70

Authority: AS 28.05.011